Gunfight and arson engrossed the border town of Moreh, Tengnoupal district on Wednesday morning after a scuffle between an irate mob and personnel of Assam Rifles reportedly broke out when the latter tried to stop several Kuki women from looting the abandoned shops owned by the Meitei community.
As a result of the scuffle, a gunfight unfolded between suspected Kuki militants and a combined team of central paramilitary and state security forces stationed at the border town. The militants allegedly torched several abandoned Meitei houses and shops in which several shops owned by Tamils, Biharis, Rajasthanis and Bengalis were also damaged.
As per reports, the whole incident kicked off around 8:45 am when Assam Rifles personnel stationed at Moreh tried to stop several Kuki women from selectively looting the abandoned Meitei shops in the border town.
The report added that a stand-off between the Assam Rifles and an irate mob broke out after intervention and as a result, the mob started torching several Meitei houses and shops in Moreh Ward numbers 6, 7, 8 and 9.
According to the Police Control Room, the mob burned around 15-16 houses and partially burnt the Forest Guest House too.
Following the incident, suspected Kuki militants reportedly drew the trigger first against the forces and the combined team of Assam Rifles, BSF and state police commando retaliated. According to sources, the gunfight continued till late in the evening. No casualties were reported on the central and state force side.
In response to the incident at Moreh, displaced people staying at Akampat relief center, Imphal East demonstrated a protest at Singjamei Bridge on Wednesday.
Displaced people mainly from Moreh, Churachandpur and other places are staying at the said relief centre opened at Akampat Relief Centre, Imphal East.
The displaced people marched from Akampat relief centre to meet Chief Minister N Biren Singh but were blocked by the police at Singjamei bridge. However, four representatives from the group were allowed to meet the chief minister.
The protester held the rally under the banner “Protest rally against Narco refugee Kuki militants” and raise slogans such as ‘no separate administration in Manipur’, ‘we want to return to Churachandpur and Moreh’, ‘go back Kuki refugees, go back Assam Rifles’, ‘ we condemned central forces for allowing to burn Meitei houses at Moreh’ and others.
One of the victims staying at the relief camp told the media that “we want to return back to our houses but how can we return without proper security. Amid the crisis, Kuki militants are frequently attacking at different places,” and questioned what is the reason for deploying a large number of central forces if they cannot stop the attacks.
She said if the central forces are not able to take any step to stop the violence, then they should go back from Manipur.
The protestor alleged that the central forces have not taken any action against the Kuki militants so far but took immediate action against any protests that are carried in Imphal City.
Following the action from Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, many protestors in Imphal city have been injured, she said and questioned why the RAF failed to take any action while two vehicles of RAF were burnt at Sapermeina by Kukis.
She said that the act of central forces shows that the central government wants to suppress the Meitei people in Manipur and further questioned where the central forces deployed in Manipur are at.
One of the representatives told the media after meeting CM that they were told that the CM has instructed to send additional forces at Moreh and that he also instructed the commanding officer of Assam Rifles deputed at Moreh area to take necessary action against Kuki militants.
